Introduction of supporting papers

Abstract

In organising this session it was decided that there would be two types of papers, main papers from invited authors and supporting papers that might be submitted by individual countries or the international/supranational agencies. The supporting papers might deal with any aspect of our main topic. According to the agreed rules for this game, the supporting papers were not to be read out or presented by the country in question. Instead, the chairman would present them in a joint introduction summarizing their salient points.

Nine countries responded to this invitation sending in ten papers dealing in various ways with our subject matter. Of the ten papers, seven are submitted by six newly independent countries or countries in transition discussing their new realities in defining, establishing and exercising proper relations with and proper boundaries between the NSI (national statistical institute) and the government administration. On the other hand, we have three papers from three of the best anchored NSI's in our region, discussing their experience of how the relationship between the NSI and the government may de developed much beyond the basic ground rules as portrayed by the Fundamental Principles.